Fresh from our "Is this for real or for play-play?" file, the Huffington Post is reporting that Rep. Charlie Rangel will seek re-election in 2012. Yes, the man at the center of an ethics-violation scandal, which he survived, wants to go back into the lion's den one more time.
You may remember that Rangel, who is 80 years old, was officially censured by his peers in December after a high-profile, drama-laden ethics trial that had more plot points than any episode of Days of Our Lives. Rangel, who was first elected to Congress in 1970, filed a 2012 statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission one year before the deadline. Seriously?
Has Mr. Rangel heard the phrase "overstaying your welcome"? While it is admirable that a man his age still wants to be in the mix, it is incredible that he would want to continue to be in the mix in politics. His much storied political career took a major hit when he was stripped of his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee and then exposed for poor record keeping during his ethics trial.
He survived that political scandal, but will the political lion be able to survive another should it arise? Our question is, why would he want to? We think Rangel should consider retiring. He has served his constituents well over the years and deserves to have some time for himself. Knowing when to walk away is a skill that cannot be overstated. Besides, isn't it time for someone else to step up? Isn't it time that Rangel let him or her?
Read more at the Huffington Post.
In other news: Haley Barbour's Quagmire: NAACP, KKK Plates and Amnesty.